Pitman



Oct. 7, 1947.

A. E. ROXBERG PI'IMAN Filed Feb. 8., 1945 2 Shets-Sheet 1 Pea 391:

iiBy .93 v. v

Ot. 7, 1947. A. E. ROXBERG 1 P'ITMAN I I Filed Feb. 8, 1945 -2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Inventor WWW Patented Oct. 7, 1 947 UNITED STATES-PATENT OFFICE PI'lfMAN Arvid E. Roxberg, Minneapolis, Minn.

Application February 8, 1945, Serial No. 576,747

The present invention relates to new and useful improvements in pitmans adapted for connecting the wrist or crank pin f mowing machines, binders or combines with the sickle or cutter bar thereof.

An important object of the present invention is to provide a pitman of this character adapted for connecting the sickle or cutter bar with the wrist or crank pin of the driving mechanism so that the pitman is free to pivot vertically or horizontally for preventing the strain or breakage thereof when the cutter comes into contact with an obstruction.

Formerly it has been the practice of constructing pitmans of this character of wood which easily becomes broken upon engagement of the cutter with an obstruction.

By reason of my improved pitman construction, the same may now be constructed of metal and composed of pivoted sections normally retained in longitudinal alignment to transform the rotary motion of the drive means of the machine to a reciprocatory motion of the cutter and in which the sections of the pitman are adapted to pivot either vertically or horizontally to prevent bending, distortion or breaking of the parts upon the striking of an obstruction.

A further object of the invention is to provide a pitman of this character of simple and practical construction, which is strong and durable, relatively inexpensive to manufacture and otherwise well adapted for the purposes for which the same is intended.

Other objects and advantages reside in the details of construction and operation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, reference being had to the accompanying drawings forming part hereof, wherein like numerals refer to like parts throughout, and in which:

Figure 1 is a top plan view of the pitman adapted for use with old style mowers.

Figure 2 is a fragmentary side elevational view showing the extension provided for new style mowers.

Figure 3 is an edge elevational view of the form of the invention illustrated in Figure l.

Figure 4 is a longitudinal sectional view taken substantially on the line 4-4 of Figure 3.

Figure 5 is a sectional view taken substantially on the line 55 of Figure 3.

Figure 6 is a side elevational view of the center rod of the pitman.

Figure 7 is an enlarged side elevational view of the end section of the pitman of the form of the invention illustrated in Figure 2.

1 Claim. (01. 74-584) Referring now to the drawings in detail, and first with respect to the form of the invention illustrated in Figures 1 and 3 of the drawings, the

- with one end 6 of the center section 5 and having a link [0 pivotally connected to the section 8 at the outer end of the latter by means of a bolt or pin II.

Adjacent ends of the section 8 and link I0 are disposed in overlapping relation and are reduced in thickness, as illustrated in Figure 4 of the drawings and having their opposed faces flattened to permit horizontal swinging movement of the link l0 relative to the section 8 The outer end of the link If] is pivotally attached to the inner end of the knife end clamping strap 1 by a horizontal pin or bolt i2, the adja cent sections of the link and the strap being disposed in overlapping relation and with their op.. posed faces flattened, as more clearly shown in Figure 1 of the drawings to permit vertical movement of the strap relative to the link.

The strap 1 includes the detachable knife end clamping plate l3 secured to the end of the strap by means of a bolt l4 and by means of which the knife end of the cutter bar may be connected to the strap in the usual manner.

Accordingly, by reason of the vertical pivot pin II and the horizontal pivot pin I 2, the strap 1 may be pivoted either vertically or horizontally to prevent breaking of the rod upon the striking of an obstruction by the cutter.

The inner and outer ends of the link In may be maintained in longitudinal alignment with respect to the pitman by means of conventional form of spring-projected balls I5 carried at the outer end of the socket 9 and adapted for seating in a socket or recess I6 in the adjacent end of the link l0 and a similar spring-projected ball I! carried at the inner end of the strap 1 and adapted for seating in a recess or socket it in the adjacent end of the link, as more clearly shown in Figure 4 of the drawings. The halls I5 and l! are of a type for snapping into and out of position in their respective sockets.

Likewise, at the other end of the center section 5 of the pitman is a pitman rod section 19 constructed identical to the section 8 and threaded on the adjacent end of the section 5, and to which a link 20 is pivotally attached similar to the link H], but for swinging laterally.

A box end pitman strap 2| is pivotally attached to the outer end of the link 20 in a manner similar to the strap I, but, for swinging vertically, the strap 2| being adapted for use upon old style mowers.

The ends of the link 2| are releasably secured in longitudinal alignment with the pitman by means of zbalrl and socket members, as'pneviousjly described-with respect to the dink-i=0.

Accordingly, the pitman is adapted for horizontal as well as vertical pivotal movement with respect to the strap 2|.

In order to adapt the invention for use in newer type mowers, the strap .2] :.and ilinkifl are removed at the box end ,ofilhe .pitman and the straps 1 and I0 removed at the knife end thereof and a strap of the form designated ,at'

22 in Figures 2 and 7 of the drawings is pivotally attached to the ends-of the sections \8 and '19,

respectively. 7

"The strap 12 2 includes an enlarged head "Z3 at its outer end having a ball bearing assembly 24 mounted in an openingthereof, the ball bear n assembly providing a pivotal attaching means at right angles 't-ot-the pivoted inner end d-f the,strap. 1 The strap 22 :is yieldably maintained in elongi -tudin,ally aligned position with respect to the :pi-tman by means of a spring-projected ball 25 similar -toothe links A 0 and :20.

It is believed that the details of construction and manner of use of the device will be readily understood from the foregoing without further detailed explanation. Y

Having thus described the invention, what I claim is:

A pitman comprising a center portion, extensions detachably connected to each end of said center portion, links pivoted at their inner ends :to each extension for pivotal mOYQmEQt about rig-ht -angularly related axes, and attaching straps pivoted to the outer ends of the links for :pivotal movement in a direction at right angles 1 50 that of their adjacent links, and snap catch means releasably maintaining the straps and links in longitudinal alignment with said center portion and responsive to predetermined pivotal force subjected 'tothe straps to release the catch means.

Numbe Name. Date 797,267 Crutchiow an Aug. l5, 4995 1,313,764 Thurston Aug, 19,1919 39 1,662,657 tllpeicniwl- Mali-13,1928 

